Electric switch.



Patented Oct. 2, I900.

N. D. BANU. ELECTRIC SWITCH.

. (Applicltion filed Feb. 10, 1900.) (No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

NATHANIEL DWIGHT RAND, OF IVATERTOIVN, MASSACHUSETTS.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 658,925, dated October 2, 1900.

Application filed February 10, 1900. Serial No. 4,818, (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, NATHANIEL DWIGHT RAND, a citizen of the United States, residing at Watertown, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Electric Switch, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to electrical switches; and it has for its object to provide a device of this kind which shall be simple, cheap, and efficient; and it consists in theimproved construction and novel combination of parts of the same, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, in which the same reference-numerals indicate corre sponding parts in each of the views in which they occur, Figure is a plan view of my improved switch with the cover removed, the handle and the circuit-wires being shown in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a diametrical crosssectional View of the same, and Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are perspective detail views.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 indicates the base of my switch, which is preferably circular and may be formed from any suitable materialas porcelain, glass, &c. It may be secured in position, as to a wall, in any suitable manner as, for instance,by means of screws projecting through holes 2. The bottom of the base is preferably provided with a flange 3 around its periphery, in which are formed a series of openings 4. Adjacent to these openings the base is provided with a series of perforations 5, through which the circuit-wires extend for engagement with their terminals. By constructing the base in this manner it is evident that the circuit-wires may be connected with my switch directly from the rear, with the ends of the wires projecting through said perforations, or the connection may be made through the side of the switch by extending the wires through the openings 4 into the space formed by the flange 3 and bending the end of the wires at an angle, so as to project up through the perforations 5.

Secured to the upper surface of the base directly over the perforations 5 area series of contact-points (3, a portion only of which are provided with binding-posts 7, each post registering with one of the perforations 5. Each of the contact-points consists of a perforated base or foot 8, by means of which it is secured to the base of the switch, and it is provided with a vertical wall or flange 9, whichformstheterminalofthecircuit. These walls are curved in the arc of the circle and are arranged in pairs adjacent to each other and have the ends of each pair slightly bent away from each other, so as to form a guide for the entrance of the blades of the switch. The points are further arranged in groups, one group of which contains two contact points and the other group contains four. One of the contact-points in the group of two points is in electrical connection with two points of the other group by means of the union or binding strip 10, which is secured at its ends to the base of said contact-points in any suitable manner and is provided with a bindingpost 11. I prefer to connect one arm of the union-strip with the two central contact-points by forming said points upon a single foot, as shown in Fig. 5, and joining said arm thereto, as shown in Fig. l.

Journaled upon the base, as by means of an axle or spindle 12, which is journaled at the center of the base, is a plate 13, provided with a series of radiallyextending arms 14:. Each of said arms is provided with a downwardly-projecting curved blade or blades 15, each of which is secured thereto in position to pass between one of the sets of contacts when the plate is rotated upon its axis. Each end of said blades is preferably beveled or inclined for the purpose of more freely entering the space between each set of contactpoints, and its upper edge is provided with laterally-projecting perforated wings 17, by means of which it is secured to the under side of the arms by means of the screws 18. A portion of the blades are long enough to be secured to more than one arm, as shown in Fig. 1. By arranging the blades at different positions and in combinations upon the arms it is evident that by rotating the plate so to bring the different arms directly over the points different circuits can be completed through the contact-points forming the ter minals of the dilferent wires.

The spindle, where it passes through the base, is preferably insulated therefrom, as by means of an insulating-bushing l9, and the plate 13 is supported at a suitable distance above the base by means of acollar 20, formed from any suitable insulating material. The lower end of the spindle is preferably screwthreaded and provided with a nut 21,. which is screwed into place after the spindle has been passed through the collar and the insulating-bushing and holds the spindle rigidly against lateral movement, but permits of its free rotation. If desired, the nut can be soldered or otherwise fastened to the spindle to prevent its accidental removal or displacement. The upper end of the spindle is provided with a head 22, which engages with the plate 13 and binds it against the collar 20, and has its outer end shouldered and squared for the reception of a handle 23, by means of which the spindle and the plate may be to tated. A binding-screw 24 passes through the handle and into the end of the spindle for securingitin position. Clamped between the hub of the handle and the shoulder of the head of the spindle is an indicator 25, preferably formed from insulating material, for indicating the position of the different arms relatively to the contact-points.

Fitting over the arms is a cover 26, the edge of which fits in the recess 27 around the periphery of the base and is provided with a notch 28, which fits over a projection 29 on the base to cause the cover to always assume its correct position when placed upon the base. The top of the cover is provided with perforation 30, by means of which it tits loosely over the head of the spindle, and it is further provided, adjacent to said perforation, with a series of indicating characters, each of which will correspond with the circuit that will be formed when the indicator points thereto. The interior of the cover is provided with a lilting of paper 31 or othersuitable insulating material.

In operation my switch is secured in position and the ends of the wires are inserted in their respective bindingposts and the plate rotated by means of the handle, so as to bring the blades between the contactpoints to complete the desired circuit. In this manner by employing seven arms, as shown in the drawings, with the four circuit-wires I am enabled to operate three lamps or other electrical apparatus by seven different combinations. All that is necessary to form any combination with my switch is to turn the handle in eitherdirection until the indicator points to the character upon the cover indicating the combination desired, thus enabling my switch to take the place of three ordinary single-pole switches.

While the switch is more particularly adapted for controlling electric-light currents, yet it is evident that it can be adapted for other purposes-as, for instance, controlling circuits within which batteries are located instead of electric lights.

Although I have shown what I have found to be a very convenient and practical construction for embodying my invention, I reserve to myself the right to make such changes and alterations therein as will come within the limit and scope of my invention' Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, with a base, of contactpoints secured thereto, a portion only of which are provided with binding-posts, means for grouping said points, and movable switcharms each provided with means for completing a different circuit. through said contact-points, substantially as described.

2. In an electrical switch, thecotnbination, with a flanged base, said flange being provided with openings and the base being provided with perforations adjacent thereto, of contact-points secured to the upper surface of the base, a portion only of which are provided with binding-posts, there being a bind ing-post for each perforation through the base, a binding-plate in contact with the remaining contact-points, said plate being grovided with a binding-post, and movable arms, each of which is provided with means for forming a different circuit through said contact-points, substantially as described.

In an electrical switch, the combination, with a centrally-perlorated base, of groups of contact-points secured to the upper surface thereof, said points beingarranged in groups, a binding-strip for electrically connecting a portion of the points of each group, a spittdle journaled in said base, radially-projecting arms secured to said spindle, each of said arms being provided with means for forming a different circuit through said contact-points, a cover upon the base provided with indicating characters, and a handle and an indicator upon the head of the said spindle outside of the cover, substantially as described.

i. In an electrical switch, the combination, with a base provided with contact-points, of a spindle journaled insulatingly at the center of said base, an armed plate secured to the said spindle, the arms being provided with blades of different lengths for forming a circuit through the said contact-points, a collar between said plate and thebase, a cover over said arms provided with characters for indi cating the different circuits, and a handle, and an indicator upon the spindle outside of the cover, substantially as described.

5. In an electrical switch, the combination, with a base, of a series of contact-points secured thereto, a spindle journaled at the center of said base and provided with a series of radially-projecting arms, each arm being provided with means for forming a different circuit through said contact-points, a cover on the base, the top of which is perforated for the projection of the head of the spindle, the projecting portion of the spindle being squared and provided with a shoulder, a handle upon NATHANIEL DWIGHT RAND.

the squared portion of the spindle, an indi- Witnesses: oator between the handle and the shoulder of W. V. T. HINCKLEY, the spindle, and a screw through the handle I F. A. SMITH. 

